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Teaching with Connected Texts
Title & Lexile® Level
Reading Scaffolds
Connected Texts
Connected Texts are short, high-interest reading passages that extend learning beyond the BrainPOP movie. They’re designed to help students build background knowledge and reinforce key vocabulary needed to understand complex ideas. Each passage is written at multiple reading levels, has multiple questions that check for understanding, and is supported by built-in Reading Scaffolds to help all learners access the content.
Teaching with Connected Texts
We know that teachers need a variety of text sources for students to build background knowledge on a topic, and core instruction sometimes assumes students come with certain background knowledge. At the same time, teachers must toe the line between having their students read at grade level and scaffolding extra support for those who need it.
Enter, Connected Texts. The texts connected to the movie help all students come to the table with contextual foundations—while the different reading levels help students feel supported or challenged, or somewhere in between: all depending on the needs of the day. Simultaneously, the engaging questions in the assessment help cement students’ comprehension and flex their critical thinking muscles.
Title & Lexile® Level
Connected Texts are identified by their title and Lexile® Level.
The Lexile® Framework for Reading provides teachers with an interpretive — not prescriptive — tool to help teachers find texts that are challenging enough to foster growth while not so difficult that students get frustrated. BrainPOP uses the Lexile® text measure (text complexity) and the corresponding grade bands to support differentiated instruction, so that teachers can easily find texts that align to each student’s individual “sweet spot” for literacy growth.
To learn more about how BrainPOP uses Lexile® measures for Connected Texts, choose Lexile® Measures and Grade Levels above any Connected Texts activity.
Reading Scaffolds
Connected Texts are enhanced with built in Reading Scaffolds, allowing students to click on unfamiliar words or sentences to see or hear a contextual definition or a simplified version of the sentence. These scaffolds help make grade-level content more accessible to all types of learners who may benefit from additional support with comprehension.
Learn more about how to use Reading Scaffolds!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do students see the Lexile® level of the Connected Text when it’s assigned to them?
No. Students will see the text itself and the built-in assessment, but do not see the Lexile® level of assigned Connected Texts.
Are Connected Texts available on every topic?
We are still working to add Connected Texts to every BrainPOP topic — if you notice that Connected Texts aren’t available for a topic and would like to see them added, you can let us know! Choose “Request Leveling for this Topic” in the Teacher Resources section of the topic page.
What happened to Related Reading and Leveled Reading?
Connected Texts (previously called Leveled Reading) has replaced our now-retired Related Reading feature for BrainPOP 3-8 with texts intentionally designed to build background knowledge on the movie topic while also helping students practice and apply literacy skills emphasized in state ELA standards, such as making inferences, identifying main idea and details, and comparing and contrasting.
What plans include Connected Texts?
Connected Texts are available on BrainPOP 3-8 topics for School and Homeschool subscribers.